Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 1998. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Elsa Joubert initially acquired her reputation for her travel writing which is mainly about Africa during the fifties. In her texts she not only focusses on the curiosities and visually attractive sites of the countries she tours, but also conveys her extensive knowledge of the history and her special interest in the intimate human aspects of the people. Ons wag op die kaptein (1963) established her name as startling novelist of Southern-African themes. Missionaris (1988) and Die reise van Isobelle (1995) are based on identifiable SouthernAfrican historical information and subtly place historiography under scrutiny. In these texts Joubert thematizes and problematizes historiography, which she finds lacking in its ability to convey a true representation of events. Photo's, recorded visions or other images of an experience of reality still only remain representations of that "reality". Through the process of fictionalization (as in a novel) "a truth" comes to the light, but at the same time the one-sided and relative nature of canonised history is exposed. Through this critical glance at the status quo and canonised white history, which originated under the pressure of anti-colonialism, Joubert has sided with writers such as Jan Rabie and Andre P. Brink in their opposition to Apartheid and desire to contribute toward the constitution of a new South-Africa. In Die reise van Isobel/e Joubert comments, through the use of characters in a family cronicle, on the manner in which people are affected and shaped by their context. The author, through the use of Leonora as sceptical narrator, focalisator and manipulator, ironises for example the steadfast convictions of the patriotic Josias and Agnes, and thereby confers a critical view of politicalideological problems. The romance between Belle, as group bound Afrikaner girl, and the interesting foreign Indian Hussein Badir, which ends in his death, illustrates the discord when racist prejudice clashes with personal experience. Leo serves as a model of freedom and hope which coincides with detachment from conventional political convictions. Different kinds of journeys can be identified in coherence with the characters, e.g. physical, literal journeys, religious journeys and political journeys. The family chronicle eventually becomes an example of Afrikaner society's emancipation or journey from a patriarchal to a free independent way oflife. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Elsa Joubert het aanvanklik bekendheid verwerf vir haar reisverhale oor veral Afrika uit die vyftigetjare. Sy is in die tekste nie slegs toeristies ingestel op die wetens- en besienswaardighede van die Iande wat sy besoek nie, maar toon, naas 'n omvattende kennis van die geskiedenis, ook aandag vir die intiem menslike doen en late. Ons wag op die kaptein (1963) het haar naam gevestig as opspraakwekkende romanskrywer oor Suider-Afrikaanse temas. Ook Missionaris (1988) en Die reise van Isobelle (1995) is op herkenbare gegewens gebaseer en plaas geskiedskrywing op 'n subtiele manier in die soeklig. In hierdie tekste tematiseer en problematiseer Joubert die geskiedskrywing, wat volgens haar tekortskiet om 'n oortuigende beeld te gee. Foto's, opgetekende visioene of andersoortige weergawes van 'n werklikheidsbelewing bly steeds representasies. Deur die_ proses van fiksionalisering (soos in 'n roman) kom minstens "'n waarheid" aan die lig, maar dit bevestig terselfdertyd die eensydige en relatiewe aard van die gekanoniseerde geskiedenis. Deur hierdie kritiese blik op die status quo en die gekanoniseerde wit geskiedenis, wat onder andere weens die druk van die anti-kolonialisme ontstaan bet, sluit Joubert haar aan by skrywers soos Jan Rabie en Andre P Brink se opposisie teen Apartheid en versugting om by te dra tot die totstandkoming van 'n miwe Suid-Afrika. In Die reise van lsobelle lewer Joubert, deur die gebruik van karakters in 'n familiegeskiedenis, kommentaar oor die wyse waarop mense geraak en gevorm word deur bulle konteks. Die skryfster ironiseer deur die gebruik van Leonora as skeptiese verteller, fokalisator en manipuleerder, byvoorbeeld die vaste oortuigings van die patriotiese Josias en Agnes en gee sodoende 'n kritiese blik op polities-ideologiese vraagstukke. Die liefdesverhouding tussen Belle as groepsgebonde Afrikanermeisie en die vir haar interessant-vreemde Indiese Hussein Badir wat op sy dood uitloop, illustreer die tweespalt wanneer rassistiese vooroordele bots met eie ervaring. Leo dien as voorbeeld van vryheid en hoop wat gepaardgaan met die losbreek uit konvensionele politieke oortuigings. Verskillende soorte reise kan in samehang met die · karakters onderskei word, naamlik fisiese, letterlike reise, geestelik-godsdienstige reise en politieke reise. Hierdie familiegeskiedenis word uiteindelik eksemplaries van die Afrikanersamelewitig se emansipasie of reis van 'n patriargale tot 'n vrye, onafhanklike tipe leefwyse.

No abstract available. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1993.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / No abstract available.

M.A. (Afrikaans) / In comparing these two novels the perceptual, psychological and ideological facets of focalization are discussed. Perceptual focalization comprises two main aspects namely the focalizer's spacial orientation as regards himself and the focalized object and secondly the focalizer's position regarding the past, present and future in the text. The psychological facet of focalization comprises the cognitive background and development of the narrator-focalizer as well as his emotional orientation towards the focalized. The life world and value system of the focalizer determines the ideological perspective against which the characters and events in the novel are evaluated...

Thesis (MA (Afrikaans and Dutch))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Autobiography is a growing, but elusive literary genre. However, when texts are read as autobiographical – and thus as a form of self-representation – the theme of identity provides the reader with an interesting and useful method by which to approach it. In this study, two Afrikaans autobiographical texts are approached in a comparative manner, with the aim being to examine the writers’ representations of themselves. The texts studied are ’n Wonderlike geweld (2005) by Elsa Joubert, and ’n Ander tongval (2005) by Antjie Krog. Besides the autobiographical nature of these texts, the comparison is also based on: the writers’ status in the Afrikaans literary system, similarities beween them and their backgrounds, and the corresponding publication dates. The theoretical basis from where the concepts autobiography and identity are viewed is explained briefly. The emphasis falls on autobiography as a hybrid genre, that is defined mainly by how it is read. The use of identity as a reading strategy is suggested, with identity being understood as an unstable construction that changes constantly, depending on the context in which it is constructed. Consequently, the different identities according to which Joubert and Krog reveal themselves to the reader and the autobiographical forms through which they achieve this, are examined and discussed in separate chapters. Specific emphasis is placed on how they convey the spirit of the time and on the influence of the context in which the texts are published. Finally, the differences and similarities in the writers’ representation of themselves are summarised. In the end it emerges that the reading strategy focused on identity provides the reader with a useful approach to the study of texts in the autobiographical genre, since it is possible to successfully apply it to two texts with diverse autobiographical qualities. Furthermore, it becomes clear that the structure and style of these texts mirror the writer’s approach to identity to a great extent. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Outobiografie is ’n groeiende, maar onpeilbare literêre genre. Wanneer tekste as outobiografies – en dus as ’n vorm van self-representasie – benader word, bied die tema van identiteit egter ’n interessante en nuttige invalshoek. In hierdie studie word twee Afrikaanse outobiografiese tekste vergelykend benader, met die doel om die skrywers se voorstellings van hul identiteit daarin te ondersoek. Die twee tekste wat gebruik word, is ’n Wonderlike geweld (2005) van Elsa Joubert, en ’n Ander tongval (2005) van Antjie Krog. Benewens die outobiografiese aard van die tekste, sluit die basis vir vergelyking ook die skrywers se status binne die Afrikaanse literêre sisteem, ooreenkomste tussen hulle en hul agtergronde, en die ooreenstemmende publikasiedatums in. Die teoretiese basis vanwaar die begrippe outobiografie en identiteit beskou word, word kortliks uiteengesit. Die klem val op outobiografie as ’n hibridiese genre wat veral gedefinieer word op grond van hoe ’n mens dit lees. Die gebruik van identiteit word dan as ’n lees-strategie voorgestel, met identiteit wat verstaan word as ’n onstabiele konstruksie wat konstant verander op grond van die konteks waarbinne dit gekonstrueer word. Die verskillende identiteite waarvolgens Joubert en Krog hulself aan die leser openbaar en die outobiografiese vorme wat hulle hiervoor gebruik, word dan ondersoek en bespreek in twee afsonderlike hoofstukke. Spesifieke klem word gelê op die tydsgees wat vasgevang word en die invloed wat die konteks waarbinne die tekste gepubliseer word, het. Uiteindelik word die verskille en ooreenkomste in die skrywers se voorstellings van hulself saamgevat. Ten slotte blyk dit dat die lees-strategie wat fokus op identiteit ’n nuttige invalshoek bied vir die studie van tekste binne die outobiografiese genre, aangesien dit met vrug op twee tekste met uiteenlopende outobiografiese eienskappe toegepas kan word. Verder word dit ook duidelik dat die struktuur en styl van die tekste in ’n groot mate die skrywer daarvan se benadering tot identiteit weerspieël.

Ph.D. / A central tradition within the art of novel-writing is that of realism. Reality cannot be duplicated, and the illusion of reality in literature depends on narrative conventions. Within the perspective of the age-old tradition of realism one would have to view the bent and the emphasis of modern prose in the light of what has been described as "realism with documentary woof", "faction" , and "the new realism". The link with the reality of the day is often such that one cannot merely talk about "illusion of reality" - it pertinently becomes "illusion of actuality". The "political" noveI that wants to play in upon an actual situation, brings about an important change in the character of the literary work: the fictional is subdued, so to speak. In this study the question concerning the relation between work of art and actuality strikingly comes to the fore as a problem. The author increasingly addresses himself to the portrayal of the actual. Two methods of portrayal are identified: i) the actuality situation is fictionalised and ii ) a semblance of authenticity is given to the fictitious situation. In this thesis the different strategies employed in each of the two methods of portrayal of actuality are examined. The concepts "actuality", "illusion", and "involvement" are demarcated. Then note is taken of portrayal of actuality in older Afrikaans prose, before proceeding to an analysis of the different strategies employed in three "exemplary" works: Die swerfjare van Poppie Nongena (Elsa Joubert), 'n Droë wit seisoen (André P. Brink), and Dagboek van 'n verraaier (J.C. Steyn). The conclusion eventually drawn, is that novels with a fictitious world as a point of departure, have potentially richer literary posibilities than novels in which the actual situation serves as a point of departure. However, notwithstanding the fact that Dagboek van 'n verraaier has the fictional situation as point of departure, it does not succeed novel-wise. Despite the relatively weaker technique being used in Die swerfjare van Poppie Nongena, the novel is a success. The respective success or failure of these works is determined by the extent to which the concrete author manages to make full-fledged, blood-warm human beings of his characters. 'n Droë wit seisoen serves as an illustration of what· can be achieved when the fictitious world is used as point of departure and the characters are rendered true to life. The latter is, novelwise, the greatest success of the three. Contributing to this, in particular, are narrator's perspective, colloquial usage and tonality, the convincing manipulation of documentation, period location and characterization.

This dissertation is a report on a study about autobiography as genre, focusing on the voice of the white, Afrikaans-speaking woman. The point of departure for this study was a survey of the number of autobiographies written in Afrikaans by these women. With the focus on the limited number of such autobiographies three autobiographies were studied, namely, Met die Boere in die veld (Sarah Raal), My beskeie deel (M.E.R.) and 'n Wonderlike geweld (Elsa Joubert). Within the framework of the complexity systems theory the role of the observer (author/reader) was studied to determine the possibility of demonstrating that when reading/writing an autobiography, some epistemological changes may occur, manifesting as conceptual changes in the mind of the observer. It could be demonstrated that because of women's sensitivity to interpersonal relationships they are capable of acting as unique registers of the complexity of individual existence, while remaining aware of the constant influence, effect and needs of the other. / AFRIKAANS & THEORY OF LIT / MA (AFRIKAANS)

This dissertation is a report on a study about autobiography as genre, focusing on the voice of the white, Afrikaans-speaking woman. The point of departure for this study was a survey of the number of autobiographies written in Afrikaans by these women. With the focus on the limited number of such autobiographies three autobiographies were studied, namely, Met die Boere in die veld (Sarah Raal), My beskeie deel (M.E.R.) and 'n Wonderlike geweld (Elsa Joubert). Within the framework of the complexity systems theory the role of the observer (author/reader) was studied to determine the possibility of demonstrating that when reading/writing an autobiography, some epistemological changes may occur, manifesting as conceptual changes in the mind of the observer. It could be demonstrated that because of women's sensitivity to interpersonal relationships they are capable of acting as unique registers of the complexity of individual existence, while remaining aware of the constant influence, effect and needs of the other. / AFRIKAANS and THEORY OF LIT / MA (AFRIKAANS)

Text in Afrikaans / ’n Merkbare opbloei in die publikasie van literêre niefiksietekste wêreldwyd het gelei tot die klassifikasie van sodanige tekste as ’n vierde genre. Die politieke oorgang in Suid-Afrika in 1994 het gelei tot ’n soortgelyke toename in outobiografiese tekste waarin kommentaar gelewer word op die Suid-Afrikaanse politieke werklikheid deur die vertel van sowel persoonlike as kollektiewe geskiedenisse. Daymond en Visagie (2012) identifiseer outo-etnografie, apologie en belydenis as kenmerke van die Suid-Afrikaanse outobiografie ná 1994. In hierdie navorsingsverslag word enkele resente skrywersoutobiografieë van onderskeidelik Elsa Joubert (’n Wonderlike geweld: jeugherinneringe (2005); Reisiger (2009)), André P. Brink (’n Vurk in die pad (2009)) en Koos Kombuis (Seks & drugs & boeremusiek: die memoirs van ‘n volksverraaier (2000); Die tyd van die Kombi’s: ‘n persoonlike blik op die Afrikaanse rock-rebellie (2009)) gemeet aan die kriteria wat deur Daymond en Visagie voorgestel word. Die beskrywing en interpretasie van verskeie outo-etnografiese merkers lei daartoe dat hierdie outobiografieë as ’n vorm van kulturele introspeksie beskou kan word. / A marked proliferation in the publication of literary nonfiction globally led to the classification of such texts as a fourth genre. The political transition in South Africa in 1994 caused a similar increase in autobiographical texts in which commentary is offered on the South African political reality through the telling of both personal and collective histories. Daymond and Visagie (2012) identify autoethnography, apologia and confession as characteristics of post-1994 South African autobiographies. In this research report some contemporary writers’ autobiographies, respectively those of Elsa Joubert (’n Wonderlike geweld: jeugherinneringe (2005); Reisiger (2009)), André P. Brink (’n Vurkin die pad (2009)) and Koos Kombuis (Seks & drugs & boeremusiek: die memoirs van ‘n volksverraaier (2000); Die tyd van die Kombi’s: ‘n persoonlike blik op die Afrikaanse rock-rebellie (2009)) are evaluated using the criteria proposed by Daymond and Visagie. The description and interpretation of various autoethnographical markers confirm that these autobiographies can be considered a form of cultural introspection. / Afrikaans and Theory of Literature / M.A. (Afrikaans)